The short version: Spotify for Creators is the best free podcast hosting in 2026, with unlimited hosting and distribution to other podcast apps, and Podbean also has a free account. YouTube and Apple Podcasts aren't hosts in the same way: you send them your show's RSS feed. Spotify has removed its recording tools, so you'll need to record somewhere else.
Starting a podcast used to mean choosing a host before you'd recorded a word. Now you can host for free, send your show everywhere listeners are, and only think about upgrading when you have an audience that needs more. The important thing is understanding what a host does, because it's the home of your RSS feed, and that feed is your show.
Four places to host or publish a podcast for free
In no particular order:
- Spotify for Creators: best free host for audio and video shows.
- Podbean: best if you want a dedicated podcast host with a free starting account.
- YouTube: best for putting an audio show in front of YouTube's audience from your feed.
- Apple Podcasts: best for reaching Apple listeners once your feed is hosted.
Free podcast options side by side
| Service | Role | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify for Creators | Free host | Unlimited hosting, distribution to other podcast apps |
| Podbean | Host | Says you can start with a free account |
| YouTube | Publishes from your RSS feed | RSS ingestion only in select countries |
| Apple Podcasts | Directory | Needs a publicly addressable RSS 2.0 feed |
The easy way to think about it: one service hosts your audio and creates your feed, and everyone else reads that feed.
How each option works
Spotify for Creators says you can host for free and distribute everywhere, with unlimited hosting, audio and video uploads, analytics and comments. If you're moving an existing show, Spotify's support page says you paste in your RSS feed or search for your show name, wait for your episodes to import, then redirect your old feed to your new Spotify for Creators feed so you keep your audience.
YouTube's help centre says audio-first podcasters can submit their RSS feed, and YouTube will create a video for each episode using your show art as a static image. New episodes upload to your channel automatically, but RSS ingestion is only available in select countries and regions. Apple Podcasts says feeds can be self-hosted or come from a hosting provider, must follow the RSS 2.0 specification and must be publicly addressable rather than password-protected.
Podbean says you can sign up for a free account and move to a bigger plan later, and it offers free import from your previous host.
The Spotify change you need to know about
Plenty of guides still describe Spotify for Creators as an all-in-one studio where you record, edit and publish on your phone. Spotify's support page now says that as of July 9, some creation tools are no longer available on the web or mobile app, including Record with Friends and its recording and editing tools. You can still upload finished audio and video shows for distribution and management.
Spotify points creators who need recording tools to its integration with Riverside, and lets you download your existing recordings. So the free hosting is still there, but record and edit in a separate app, then upload the finished episode.
What a free host won't do for you
A free host stores your episodes and creates your feed, but it doesn't make the show findable on its own. You still have to submit your feed to Apple Podcasts, set up YouTube if it's available where you are, and write titles and descriptions that tell a stranger why they should press play. If you rely on YouTube's RSS option, remember each episode becomes a static image with your show art, so a separate video version will usually look better on that platform.
It's also worth thinking about who controls your feed. Apple says a feed must be publicly addressable and follow the RSS 2.0 specification, and Spotify's switching steps show how much depends on redirecting it correctly. Keep a note of your feed address and log-ins somewhere safe, because that feed is how every app finds your show.
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How to launch a podcast on free hosting
- Record and edit your first episode in a recording app.
- Create a Spotify for Creators account and upload the finished episode.
- Add your show name, description and square show art.
- Copy your RSS feed from your host's settings.
- Submit that feed to Apple Podcasts and, where available, to YouTube.
- Publish on a regular schedule so the apps keep surfacing new episodes.
Growing the show once it's live
Hosting is the easy part. What makes a podcast work is a clear audience, a format you can keep up and episodes people want to share. My step-by-step guide on how to start a podcast covers the planning, and here's the podcast recording software worth trying now Spotify's tools have gone. If you outgrow free hosting, my roundup of podcast hosting tools compares the bigger options.
One tip from guesting on a lot of shows: keep a copy of every finished episode file on your own computer or cloud storage. If you ever switch host, you'll want your archive in your own hands.
My verdict: host on Spotify for Creators, record in a separate app, and send your RSS feed to Apple Podcasts and YouTube. It's free, it reaches every major app, and you can move later without losing listeners.
Run a free podcast host that belongs on this list? See how to get it featured.
Frequently asked questions
Is Spotify for Creators free for podcast hosting?
Yes. Spotify says you can host for free with unlimited hosting and distribute your show to other podcast apps.
Can I still record podcasts in Spotify for Creators?
No. Spotify says that as of July 9 some creation tools, including recording and editing, are no longer available. You can still upload finished shows.
Is Apple Podcasts a podcast host?
No. Apple Podcasts reads your show's RSS feed, which can come from a hosting provider or be self-hosted.
How do podcasts get onto YouTube from an RSS feed?
YouTube creates a video for each episode using your show art as a static image. RSS ingestion is available in select countries and regions only.
Can I move my podcast to Spotify without losing listeners?
Spotify says you import your show, then redirect your old RSS feed to your new Spotify for Creators feed.
